Can I fix a boot file without the original disks?

YES

look at this article.. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314079   i reckon that if you know how to create the boot.ini file, you can do that.. if you have a boot.ini file on a floppy, you could paste it into "c""  the same with the "ntldr" and the "ntdetect.com" files..

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=305595

 

Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 06-29-2004 05:06 PM

Would probably be useful is to post the contents of your boot.ini file and others can look at it to see if there is a problem.  The boot.ini files is in plain test - this is mine (XP Pro) 

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

Note the last two line are really one.

Ok here is my boot.ini file information:

[boot loader]

timeout = 30

default =multi(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)partition(2)\windows="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition"/Fastdetect

 

 

Your boot,ini files seem just fine assunig that you are running windows xp home and youur boot drive has a Dell Diagnostic partition (25-31 mbytes) before the "C" partition. 

O.K. I am a bit lost.  Can you advise how to view that information?

On another note, I added one user last year and did not realize that this would partition the drive.  Did I make a mistake?

                Thank you for your assistance, Gene

Gene1133,

Dell systems come formatted with a FAT partition of ~32MB in size which contains the diagnostics for the system. This is partition (1) unless you have reformatted your hard disk to remove it. Your boot.ini file indicates that Windows XP Home is installed on partition (2) and the format of that file is correct. Adding a user does not create a new partition.

In reviewing the previous thread in which you posted the problem it would appear that your most profitable course of action would be to do a clean reinstall of Windows XP when you receive your CDs in transit. Your boot.ini file seems correct and your testing indicated that the hard disk (a suspected cause of the problem in the first place) is not failing.

Denny,

        That is sound advice.  I will do a clean re-install when my disks arrive.

                                                      Thank You, Gene